US approves US$ 385 million towards the fight against HIV/ AIDS

The United States government has approved funding worth US$ 385 million meant to expand access to HIV/ AIDS services for the people in Zambia from October 2018 to September 2019.

Speaking during the launch of the 2018 Country Operating Plan (COP18) and the commissioning of the Kantolomba health Centre in Ndola, American Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote said the funds will help to reinvigorate the HIV target of having 1.1 million people living with HIV on Anti-Retroviral Treatment in the country by 2020 run from October 2018 to September 2019.

Mr. Foote says the funds will also bring ART services closer to the people and also reduce on distances that people travel to access health care services and also to decongest some health facilities in the country.

He is optimistic that the HIV epidemic will be reduced as services will be brought closer to the people as possible.

And Health minister Chitalu Chilufya has thanked the US government for the support towards the fight against the HIV AIDS pandemic to the Zambian government.

Dr. Chilufya has also noted the need to invest in innovations that will ensure that the underserviced population has access to HIV testing services such as self-testing and index testing.